President Bola Tinubu was sighted sleeping during the 37th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union (AU) earlier on Saturday. 

The president departed Nigeria on Thursday to attend the assembly of heads of state and government convened to discuss mainly about education. 

Mr Tinubu appeared to be sleeping during the ordinary session on Saturday while his aide-de-camp, Colonel Nurudeen Alowonle Yusuf, took notes closely behind him. 

Mr Tinubu’s spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, had said the president will also participate in “high-level meetings on institutional reforms of the African Union; peace and security; specific thematic issues such as climate change, as well as modalities of participation and priorities of the continental body in the G20.”

The presidency has yet to react to the already circulating photo and what it means for concerns about Mr Tinubu’s age and composure at international events.

The president was earlier appointed as Champion of Human Resources for Health and Community Health Delivery Partnership by the AU. Mr Ngelale announced the appointment via a letter by the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).

“President Tinubu was appointed on the recommendation of the Committee of Heads of State and Government of Africa CDC, under the leadership of His Excellency, President Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros and Chairperson of the African Union,” he said.